She’s not kidding.
A Gen Zer from NYC claims it’s “selfish” to have children — and people should make a “conscious decision” to not become parents.
“I’d rather regret not having children than having a child and regretting the role of being a mom,” social media manager Chandler Carter, 24, explained to SWNS.
“I don’t fault people for having children, but the reasons are selfish,” she added. “People want … to be a better parent than theirs were or because they want a ‘mini-me.’ Having a child is inherently selfish.”
Carter said she grew up envisioning having two or three kids — until she went to college and saw child-free women “thriving.”
“A lot of people believe the steps in life are you go to college, get a job, find a partner, get married, have kids, and buy a house,” Carter reasoned.
“I don’t think a lot of people think about having children. They do it because that’s all they see,” she added.
She realized that she doesn’t want children, and now she’s focused on her travels — she jetted off to Spain to see Beyoncé perform and visited Italy, Costa Rica and Utah this year.
She also admits to splashing out on nice dinners and nights out.
“I’m in my 20s living in New York City. We go out, we have fun. We spend money frivolously,” Carter declared. “Sometimes I spend a little too much money on dinner and drinks, but I don’t feel bad. My cost of living is cheaper — I only provide for me.”
She dreams of owning a penthouse and moving to Europe one day.
Carter said staying in New York wouldn’t be an option if she did have kids.
“Things in my life would have to change — sacrifices I wouldn’t want to make,” she noted.
A recent LendingTree study found parents often shell out more than $225,000 over 18 years to raise a child in New York.
For their part, millennials and Gen Zers have cited climate change, student debt, and inflation as some of the reasons why they are reluctant to have children.
Carter says she is upfront with potential suitors about her child-free position.
“People don’t take the decision seriously,” she sighed. “They say, ‘You’re going to change your mind,’ or ‘You’ll be lonely.’ I want my life to be mine until the day I die.”